Financial Controllers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of financial controllers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for financial controllers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of financial controllers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for financial controllers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Financial Controllers?
Do financial controllers need a degree? What kind of experience do financial controllers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for financial controllers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Financial Controllers
Jobs Postings for Financial Controllers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 243,153 (53%)
- Master's degree: 87,263 (19%)
- No Education Listed: 83,183 (18%)
- High School or GED: 37,432 (8%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 7,003 (2%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of financial controllers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 53% of positions. In 19% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 18% of postings no education level was listed.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Financial Controllers
Jobs Postings for Financial Controllers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 14,961 (6%)
- 2-3 Years: 59,702 (23%)
- 4-6 Years: 109,265 (43%)
- 7-9 Years: 38,976 (15%)
- 10+ Years: 33,436 (13%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for financial controllers. In 43% of job postings for Financial Controllers, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 23% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 7-9 years of experience was sought in 15% of job postings for financial controllers.
What Kind of Degree Do Financial Controllers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for financial controllers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 25 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective financial controllers, and in 2023 a total of 1,035,901 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective financial controllers.
Top Degree Programs for Financial Controllers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Financial Controllers (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 335,156 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 333,999 |
| General Studies. | 123,192 |
| Accounting. | 61,109 |
| Finance, General. | 50,779 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 335,156 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 333,999 |
| General Studies. | 123,192 |
| Accounting. | 61,109 |
| Finance, General. | 50,779 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other. | 34,318 |
| Economics, General. | 21,664 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other. | 19,243 |
| Organizational Leadership. | 15,298 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other. | 13,002 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General. | 9,274 |
| Business/Managerial Economics. | 4,864 |
| Project Management. | 4,299 |
| Accounting and Finance. | 3,492 |
| Actuarial Science. | 1,705 |
| Accounting and Business/Management. | 1,214 |
| Banking and Financial Support Services. | 1,034 |
| Accounting and Related Services, Other. | 795 |
| Financial Analytics. | 729 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services, Other. | 391 |
| Risk Management. | 177 |
| International Finance. | 138 |
| Public Finance. | 25 |
| Credit Management. | 2 |
| Financial Risk Management. | 2 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Financial Controllers
Build a strong foundation of real-world business knowledge suitable for a variety of career options in your industry of choice.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Master finance principles and develop all-inclusive corporate finance strategies for business firms and financial institutions.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Leverage customized solutions to help families and individuals organize life priorities and plan for their financial futures.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Expand your leadership capabilities to change the business of doing business.
- Years To Complete: 3
Distinguish yourself as a knowledgeable accounting professional with advanced technical, research, and communication skills.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 17
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Grab a chair at the leadership table with Franklin’s 17-month M.S. in Accounting with a focus in Financial Operations. In this 100% online program, you’ll learn to think critically, communicate effectively and leverage technology in innovative ways.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Master financial analysis tools and tactics that provide the knowledge you need to contribute at a strategic level with Franklin’s 12-month online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Finance.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Develop into a well-rounded, adaptive and strategic business leader with a comprehensive mindset.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Financial Controllers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by financial controllers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for financial controllers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Financial Controllers
Based on 361,134 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Financial Controllers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | 216,478 | 60% |
| Finance | 182,650 | 51% |
| Financial Statements | 119,524 | 33% |
| Auditing | 110,148 | 31% |
| Generally Accepted Accounting Principles | 72,672 | 20% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Financial Controllers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 188,623 | 52% |
| Communication | 157,411 | 44% |
| Leadership | 145,896 | 40% |
| Operations | 138,424 | 38% |
| Budgeting | 94,392 | 26% |
Based on 361,134 job postings related to financial controllers, accounting was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 60% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for finance, financial statements, auditing, generally accepted accounting principles and accounts payable were also highly sought.
As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for financial controllers, followed by communication, leadership, operations, budgeting and sales.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | 216,478 | 60% |
| Finance | 182,650 | 51% |
| Financial Statements | 119,524 | 33% |
| Auditing | 110,148 | 31% |
| Generally Accepted Accounting Principles | 72,672 | 20% |
| Accounts Payable | 54,063 | 15% |
| Internal Controls | 53,272 | 15% |
| Financial Analysis | 52,716 | 15% |
| Accounts Receivable | 51,432 | 14% |
| General Ledger | 41,317 | 11% |
| Project Management | 40,206 | 11% |
| Process Improvement | 37,894 | 10% |
| Public Accounting | 37,621 | 10% |
| Month-End Closing | 37,149 | 10% |
| Billing | 36,115 | 10% |
| External Auditing | 34,136 | 9% |
| Investments | 32,274 | 9% |
| Financial Services | 31,484 | 9% |
| Balance Sheet | 31,453 | 9% |
| Financial Planning | 31,330 | 9% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 188,623 | 52% |
| Communication | 157,411 | 44% |
| Leadership | 145,896 | 40% |
| Operations | 138,424 | 38% |
| Budgeting | 94,392 | 26% |
| Sales | 91,284 | 25% |
| Customer Service | 87,210 | 24% |
| Forecasting | 87,171 | 24% |
| Microsoft Excel | 81,548 | 23% |
| Planning | 77,166 | 21% |
| Problem Solving | 75,413 | 21% |
| Detail Oriented | 73,938 | 20% |
| Writing | 59,813 | 17% |
| Microsoft Office | 56,560 | 16% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 49,518 | 14% |
| Research | 48,574 | 13% |
| Presentations | 45,863 | 13% |
| Coaching | 45,250 | 13% |
| Decision Making | 42,478 | 12% |
| Coordinating | 41,660 | 12% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about financial controllers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for financial controllers.
What do financial controllers do?
How much do financial controllers make?
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